Create API Request Based on a Cell
One of the advantages of using the API Connector for Google Sheets is that API URL requests can be based on dynamic or fixed values within your spreadsheet. This is a very flexible function that enables you to, for example, use an automatically updated date in a spreadsheet as the start or end date of a query.
You may reference cells in the API URL path and POST body fields.
- Method 1: Reference cell containing full value
- Method 2: Combine fixed values and cell references
- Notes
Method 1: Reference cell containing full value
To use this function, wrap your cell reference in 3 plus signs on either side. (The plus signs tell API Connector that this is a cell reference and not part of the original URL.) So a reference to cell B2 in a tab called QuerySheet would be written like this: +++QuerySheet!B2+++
Method 2: Combine fixed values and cell references
Your request field can also contain a combination of fixed values and cell references. Just wrap the cell reference piece in 3 plus signs as described above, like this:
Notes
- You can use this same method to base a POST request body off a cell:
- The cell you’re referencing can use all the standard formulas and syntax of Google Sheets as usual. In the first example above, cell B2 within Google Sheets contains the following formula:
1="http://api.shareablee.com/v1.4/user/"&E2&"/facebook/time_series/"&"?start_date="&to_text(C2)&"&end_date="&to_text(D2) - For additional efficiency, you can both reference cells and stack multiple requests together (paid feature). This is useful for APIs that limit the number of records they’ll return in each response.
can post requests be sent?
Not currently, but this feature is coming very soon!
This feature is live now : )
So, linking to cells for a POST is now possible? If so, can the body of a request be dynamic based with fields tied to cells?
Sorry, currently only the API request URL can be based off a cell, not the request body.
Awesome Ana, thanks for making the POST feature possible 🙂 looking forward to link cells in the request body too!!
You can now base the request body on a cell. I’ve updated the documentation above to reflect that.
How can we send url encoded json ?
You can encode your API URL, which is useful for APIs that require parameters like /subscriptions?offset=[“1558137600000″,”14780876”]. However the POST request input only accepts un-encoded JSON. I’m open to adding this but haven’t received any requests for this feature before — is it possible to provide a little more info on your use case? Thank you!